The Harzer-Hexen-Stieg is the best hiking trail to explore the magical and mystical world of the Harz: a true hiking adventure.
Wanderer auf dem Großen Torfhausmoor (Foto: HTV / M. Gloger)UNESCO Welterbe Oberharzer Wasserwirtschaft - Pfauenteiche Luftbild (Foto: Harzwasserwerke)Infotafel am Harzer-Hexen-Stieg (Foto: HTV / M. Gloger)
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Wanderer auf dem Großen Torfhausmoor (Foto: HTV / M. Gloger)UNESCO Welterbe Oberharzer Wasserwirtschaft - Pfauenteiche Luftbild (Foto: Harzwasserwerke)Infotafel am Harzer-Hexen-Stieg (Foto: HTV / M. Gloger)
The legendary Brocken is just one of many highlights of the adventurous long distance hiking trail, which stretches across the whole Harz and the Harz National Park. Fans of fairy tales and legends will enjoy walking along the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg; while the “magical” landscape of the Harz will also fascinate nature lovers and hikers. The Harzer-Hexen-Stieg, combines nature, geology, history and culture, and is known for being a captivating cross-section through Germany’s most northern low mountain range.
Mixed green coniferous forests, rocky canyons and towering cliffs, millennia-old raised bogs as well as medieval half-timbered houses are located along the way. Evidence of more than a thousand years of mining history can be found at every turn. For example, the narrow ditches of the UNESCO World Heritage “Upper Harz Water Management System”, which was established during the 16th-18th century in order to accumulate water for the mining in the Harz.
Variations:
The "Standard point-to-point" route is 97 km between Osterode am Harz and Thale. The "Complete" route is for covering all of the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg (as shown on our map). If run continuously this will be about 174km with 2900m elevation gain.
Comments
Hi, I have two questions/comments:
1. Around km 68, the gps-track leaves the original hiking path (which stays in the valley) and moves up to "Pastorenquelle" before getting back to the trail directly after passing the graveyard. This was probably an official detour due to damages on the trail caused by bad weather, but also adds a natural water source that would not be available otherwise.
However, someone not using a navigation app/watch and just following the signs probably stays on the trail, so this might be added as an alternative route.
2. The second point is around km 86/87 when leaving Treseburg. Due to bad weather damage the trail through Bodetal is currently detoured to the standard "Winter-Version" (09/22 until at least 03/23). The detour is 0.27km shorter but adds 80m of vertical gain and a hard downhill close to the end of the trail.
As this is in official detour (https://touren.harzinfo.de/de/hinweis/sperrungen-des-bodetals-bis-zum-f…) that seems to be "active" approximately half of the year, this might be added as an alternative route as well.
Best regards,
René
Am 19.08.2023 bin ich diesen wunderschönen Track quer durch den Harz in 17:47:05 gelaufen.
Ich kann nur sagen, HARZ PUR!
Irgendwie begegnet man fast allem, was der Harz zu bieten hat, eigentlich müsste man sagen, mit dem Brocken als Höhepunkt,
dabei würde man die anderen wunderschönen Stellen, denen man auf dieser Strecke begegnet aber nicht gerecht werden.
Auf ausreichende Verpflegung sollte man achten, da es wenige Punkte zum Nachversorgen gibt.
Ich wünsche allen zukünftigen Läufern und Läuferinnen viel Spaß auf dieser Strecke,
Gruß Manfred.